KITCHENER — Food would have been flying had the Kitchener Rangers and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds been sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner.

As it was, the teams met on the ice and it was fists and verbal shots being exchanged instead of turkey and all the fixings in the Soo’s 6-2 victory Monday afternoon at the Aud.

The teams almost broke out in a bench clearing brawl as the buzzer sounded to end the second frame. With the Rangers trailing 3-1, Soo agitator Nick Cousins got in the face of Kitchener goalie Franky Palazzese.

“He started skating toward me and jawing at me,” said Palazzese, who took the loss in his second start of the season. “He was kind of faking as if he was going to hit me.”

Palazzese poked his stick at Cousins in return. The entire Soo team, which had been exiting the ice, took exception to the love tap and surrounded the Kitchener goalie. That ignited two fights and several skirmishes before referees sent the players to their dressing rooms.

“I wasn’t really worried,” said Palazzese. “We have a group here that will back me or anybody else on the ice. You have to fight for your team.”

The bad blood filtered into the third period where the Soo padded their lead in between punches. Brett Findlay had two goals and two assists while Andrew Fritsch and Michael Schumacher each collected three points in the game.

Kitchener rookie Brent Pedersen potted his third of the season for the Rangers while teammate Tobias Rieder picked up his team leading fifth goal on a penalty shot. John Gibson took over for Palazzese to start the third period and allowed three goals.

“It goes without saying that we were frustrated,” said Palazzese, who dropped to 0-2-0-0 on the season. “It wasn’t the greatest game for us.”

In all, there was one match penalty for high sticking, four fights and eight misconducts dished out by referees.

“I think there were frustrations on both sides,” said Rangers head coach and general manager Steve Spott. “Our kids are going to stand up for themselves and I thought they did a good job of that.”

Kitchener’s power play woes continued. The Rangers went 0-for-4 Monday and are now 2-for-39 on the season, which is the worst conversion rate in the Ontario Hockey League.

“I thought we were lethargic to start the game and there is no excuse for that,” said Spott. “We were the home team. I thought we would come out with a lot more energy and jump.”

The Rangers ended their Thanksgiving weekend three-game schedule with one win and two losses. The victory saved the Greyhounds from a Southern Ontario sweep, after picking up losses in London and Mississauga earlier this weekend.

The Rangers return to action Friday at home against the Owen Sound Attack. Game-time is 7:30 p.m.